Back when my uncle was diagnosed, I wrote to the Terrence Higgins Trust, asking for information and advice. We still had the 'ignorance' campaign in our minds and we were terrified - not least when I saw my mum kiss her dying brother on the forehead.

Mrs Clinton does not deserve pity. Her own record coupled with an ill-deserved sense of entitlement to the top job in US politics was her undoing. A great deal of Americans however, whether they believed in her or otherwise, do deserve pity.

My hope is that the future of theatre is emancipated from these limitations, that gender stops being used to define who we are or what we are capable of. In our lives we empathise and connect on a human level, beyond race class age and gender - shouldn't the arts reflect that too?

You're a criminal and a coward, and your crime has shocked the world to its core. But we refuse to break in the face of what you have done. The people who died because of you will be honoured as we stand together for justice.

The term queer is generally acknowledged as more of a middle class phenomenon. As rebellious as it may be, it tends to belong to those who have had the good fortune of higher education, or those who have been lucky enough to be born into an 'arty' familial circle.

Against this background of Mothering Sunday hysteria, it's understandable that over the years various teachers, play school helpers and creche supervisors approach the inevitable 'for whom should we make the card' conversation with us with visible dread.

Anyone who has experienced it will know. Bullying is a horrible thing. It eats away at a person's confidence and inculcates them with a fear that can take hold and make them afraid to go about their daily life. That fear is what bullies thrive on.

The last five years have included some real successes for the LGBT community and some progress for trans communities. The most memorable for many is finally being able to legally marry their husband or wife. However, while I welcome this with open arms, the achievements of this government also present a big risk for the LGBT community. That risk is complacency.

It's clear that David Cameron is not the progressive Prime Minister of LGBT equality that his supporters make him out to be. He's a shrewd politician whose noncommittal approach on gay marriage allowed him to ride a wave of popular support for LGBT equality, rather than leading it.

From my experience, many people who use this term have gay friends or even family members and are not in the least part homophobic. Why, then, do they continue to use the word gay in a negative context?

A large proportion of the homophobia that exists in society continues to stem from religious belief. Within this, the active condemnation of homosexuality is often justified as an expression of faith; a religious right where an individual is free to preach - what they perceive to be - the word of God.

I'm tired of students and young people as a collective being constantly ignored or patronised by the state... people forget that if you constantly damage the spirit of a generation and illegitimatise our opinions, it will demolish the hope and drive of those who not only have the potential to make huge positive impact in the UK, but worldwide.

Within the storm of normalised homophobia UKIP have created, it is easy to forget the thousands of young LGBT people who are yet to 'come out'. A sixteen year old Christian who is coming to terms with being gay is likely to be severely affected by the comments made by UKIP councillors, particularly when using the Bible as a platform for hate. This needs to change and it should not be used as a tool to endorsing a discriminatory political agenda.

It is incredibly hard for me to fully come to terms with being transgender and to explain just how I feel but I am growing with each day to accept who I am and taking any steps necessary to get where I need to be physically and mentally. The road is long, and at times painful but support is more than definitely out there if you want or need it...

Every day in Uganda gay people are subjected to all kinds of physical violence; burning and stoning are common acts of discrimination. They believe that homosexuality belongs in the same category as pedophilia, rape, murder and terrorism. In fact, Al-Qaeda is mentioned several times in the film.

It's hard to understand another person's preferences. For a straight man it is hard to understand why you wouldn't want a woman, the gender that you are attracted to. To be attracted to another man may seem alien and confusing. But really this is the same in not understanding those that are able to run marathons, solve complex mathematical equations, or any other activity different from yourself. That's just the way that person is.

Who cares about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their lives and accomplishments? We all should. But why? During LGBT History Month, we might learn about LGBT people who have made or continue to make a difference to our world. We can learn about their accomplishments and how they have changed science, literature, or many other fields.